PM protecting G-G, says mum: [1 – FIRST Edition]

PM protecting G-G, says mum: [1 – FIRST Edition]

CD’s mother asked Archbishop [Peter Hollingworth] in a letter to pay for counselling for her daughter after she was abused by Toowoomba Preparatory School pedophile Kevin Guy, but her request was refused because the church did not want to risk voiding its insurance policy by being seen to be admitting any guilt.

“I followed these instructions throughout 1991 to the point where the diocesan solicitors notified CD’s mother on 17/9/91 that the diocese would not pay CD’s counselling fees,” Dr [Peter Coman] said.

RESPONSES to abuse in the Anglican Church in Brisbane since Dr Phillip Aspinall replaced Peter Hollingworth as archbishop in February

PRIME Minister John Howard was trying to protect Governor- General Peter Hollingworth by refusing to table a sex abuse report in Federal Parliament, the mother of a girl abused by a pedophile claimed yesterday.

The mother of a student identified in the report as CD, said John Howard’s refusal to table the Anglican report into the handling of sex abuse complaints in Brisbane was an effort to protect his friend.

“I think that because this (issue) attracted national interest it should have been tabled in the national parliament,” CD’s mother said.

“Now (Peter Hollingworth) has been there for longer he has more chance of a bigger superannuation payout which annoys me intensely,” she said.

CD’s mother asked Archbishop Hollingworth in a letter to pay for counselling for her daughter after she was abused by Toowoomba Preparatory School pedophile Kevin Guy, but her request was refused because the church did not want to risk voiding its insurance policy by being seen to be admitting any guilt.

The inquiry found nothing better illustrated the unreality and unfairness of the school authorities than their response to the request for reimbursement of counselling fees incurred by CD’s parents.

The diocese never sought to persuade the insurer that a payment with a denial of liability was what the situation cried out for, the inquiry found. The inquiry also found diocesan solicitor, Max Lockhart, was in error by assuming there was a lack of evidence pointing to Guy’s guilt.

The offered resignation of Guy, which was rejected, was open to be taken as an admission of guilt and the suicide as proof of consciousness of guilt, the inquiry found.

The Anglican diocesan schools officer, Dr Peter Coman, told the commission of inquiry that he sent all details of the alleged abuse to the diocesan solicitors or the insurers.

“I followed these instructions throughout 1991 to the point where the diocesan solicitors notified CD’s mother on 17/9/91 that the diocese would not pay CD’s counselling fees,” Dr Coman said.

CD’s mother said she thought the Governor-General should resign.

“I would like him to lose the job because he doesn’t have the qualities needed for the job. I just find he is a totally non- compassionate person.”

RESPONSES

RESPONSES to abuse in the Anglican Church in Brisbane since Dr Phillip Aspinall replaced Peter Hollingworth as archbishop in February